Lions name Buck Pierce head coach

The British Columbia Lions have named Buck Pierce as their new head coach according to 3Down Nation on Tuesday. Pierce takes over from Rick Campbell, who had been the Lions head coach and co-general manager for five seasons from 2020 to 2024.

Pierce has spent the last 11 seasons in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers organization. He was their running backs coach in 2014 and 2015, their quarterbacks coach for four seasons from 2016 to 2019, and their offensive coordinator for four seasons from 2021 to 2024. As an assistant coach, Pierce won two Grey Cups. The Blue Bombers defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 33-12 at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta in 2019, and then beat the Tiger-Cats again 33-25 at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario in 2021.

As a player, Pierce quarterbacked the Lions and Blue Bombers. He was with the Lions from 2005 to 2009 and again in 2013, and with the Blue Bombers from 2010 to 2013. Pierce completed 1200 passes in 1869 attempts for 15289 passing yards, with 76 passing touchdowns and 63 interceptions. Pierce also had 233 rushes for 1684 rushing yards and 14 touchdown runs.

Pierce was also on the Lions team that won the 2006 Grey Cup. He was the Lions backup quarterback to Dave Dickenson, who is ironically another Canadian Football League coach as Dickenson is with the Calgary Stampeders. The Lions beat the Montreal Alouettes 25-14.